BC the Beatles

"Meat" the Beatles: The Butcher Cover Controversy


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The infamous "Butcher" cover inspired near-universal shock and disgust when it appeared as the original cover of The Beatles' Yesterday...and Today album. It was recalled after a single day, and albums with a butcher cover hidden underneath the replacement photo became one of the most highly-sought-after Beatles collectibles. But how much do you really know about the butcher cover?

We go through all the twists and turns of this fascinating story, including:

  • The incredible way the photographer, Bob Whitaker, entered the Beatles' orbit;
  • The wild photo session that produced the butcher images (along with some even crazier photos);
  • The struggle between The Beatles and Capitol over using the Butcher image as an album cover;
  • Capitol's panic and the herculean efforts they undertook to recall (and even bury) 750,000 albums;
  • The cover's legacy as a collector's item; and
  • What this chapter in The Beatles' story tells us about their evolution as the 1960s progressed.
  • We also discuss whether the recall was necessary in hindsight, and one of us reveals a lifelong fascination with doll heads.

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    BC the BeatlesBy REBEAT Magazine

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